Folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged, in more detail, a folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged that includes: a first link assembly installed at a ceiling, under which stairs are positioned, and rotating; a second link assembly spaced apart from the first link assembly in correspondence to the length of the stairs, formed longer than the first link assembly, and rotating; a handle assembly having a first side connected to the first link assembly and a second side connected to the second link assembly, and being folded toward the ceiling or being unfolded toward the stairs in correspondence to rotation of the first link assembly and the second link assembly; and hydraulic pumps connected to first sides of the first link assembly and the second link assembly, respectively, and controlling the first link assembly and the second link assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) the benefit of KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2022-0097199 filed on Aug. 4, 2022, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND (a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a folding stair handle for the sociallydisadvantaged, and more particularly, to a folding stair handle for thesocially disadvantaged that enables the users to move on wide stairs byfolding a handle assembly, which is positioned at the center of thestairs, at a ceiling, and that enables elderly people and children tosafely move along the center of stairs by unfolding the handle assemblyfolded at a ceiling toward the center of the stairs.

(b) Background Art

In general, handles are installed at stairs in buildings to enable usersto hold the handles and for the purpose of protection for preventingfalling when they move up and down.

Such stair handle is composed of a handrail installed to correspond tothe inclination of stairs and vertical pipes vertically installed on thestairs while supporting the handrail.

Vertical pipes are installed to be vertically erect at the centers oflandings and stages by putting the lower ends thereof in close contactwith the heads of anchor bolts embedded in the stages and the landing ofthe stairs and partially or entirely welding the outer surfaces of theclose contact portions.

However, according to such a method of installing vertical pipes in thisway in the related art, there is inconvenience that it is possible toweld vertical pipes to the close contact portions of every anchor bolt.

Further, since the external appearance is deteriorated by the weldedportions, there is an uneconomical problem that the welded portionsshould be finished with protection caps.

Further, since a vertical pipe is installed on the state of every stair,there is a problem that the installation time increases, the workefficiency decreases, and the installation cost also increases.

Further, according to the technique of the related art described above,since vertical pipes are directly welded at the site, there is a problemthat work is very difficult and safety accident occurs because weldingis performed on narrow stairs.

Recently, handles are installed at both sides and the center of interiorstairs such as subway stations.

In particular, when many people move such as in rush hour for whichpeople commute, sections are separated by a handle installed at thecenter of stairs, so people move slow or have difficulty when moving upand down stairs with large loads.

Further, when there is no handle at the center of stairs, there is aproblem that elderly people and children feel inconvenient because theyhave to move with handles installed at both sides of the stairs in theirhands.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   (Patent Document 1) Korean Utility Model No. 20-0436708 (registered    on 2007.09.17)

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In order to solve the problems of the related art described above, anobjective of the present invention is to provide a new-structure foldingstair handle for the socially disadvantaged that enables users to moveon wide stairs by folding a handle assembly, which is positioned at thecenter of the stairs, at a ceiling and that enables elderly people andchildren to safely move along the center of stairs by unfolding thehandle assembly folded at a ceiling toward the center of the stairs.

Further, another objective of the present invention is to provide afolding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged that has beendesigned to improve convenience of users by pushing or puling firstsides of a first link assembly and a second link assembly usinghydraulic pumps so that the first link assembly and the second linkassembly are rotated and a handle assembly is folded or unfolded.

Further, another objective of the present invention is to provide afolding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged making the secondlink assembly longer than the first link assembly and positioning a linkrotation shaft connected to a second side of the second link assembly ina sliding hole formed at the handle to be able to correspond to theheight differences of stairs and the length difference of the secondlink assembly.

In order to achieve the objectives of the present disclosure, there isprovided a folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged thatincludes: a first link assembly installed at a ceiling, under whichstairs are positioned, and rotating; a second link assembly spaced apartfrom the first link assembly in correspondence to the length of thestairs, formed longer than the first link assembly, and rotating; ahandle assembly having a first side connected to the first link assemblyand a second side connected to the second link assembly, and beingfolded toward the ceiling or being unfolded toward the stairs incorrespondence to rotation of the first link assembly and the secondlink assembly; and hydraulic pumps connected to first sides of the firstlink assembly and the second link assembly, respectively, andcontrolling the first link assembly and the second link assembly.

In the folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, the first link assembly mayfurther include: main frames having a side inserted in holes formed inthe ceiling and connected to a rotation holder formed between the holes;and a rotary shaft rotatably coupled to the first side of the handleassembly and connected to second sides of the main frames.

In the folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, the first link assembly mayfurther include: first spacing portions each extending from the firstside of the main frame and having a longitudinal through-hole in which ashaft is rotatably coupled and coupled to the hydraulic pump, and thefirst sparing portions may serve to enable the main frames to rotate onthe rotation holder when the shaft is moved in correspondence tocontraction of the hydraulic pump.

In the folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, the first link assembly mayfurther include supports rotatably coupled to outer surfaces of secondsides of the main frames to unfold to a surface of the handle assemblyand having an electromagnet therein.

In the folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, the second link assembly mayfurther include: link frames having a side inserted in holes formed inthe ceiling and connected to a link holder formed between the holes; asliding hole being a through-hole longitudinally formed from the centerof the handle assembly toward the second side; and a link rotary shaftpositioned in the sliding hole, connected to the second side of the linkframes, and straightly reciprocating along the sliding hole incorrespondence to rotation of the link frames.

In the folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, the handle assembly may furtherinclude: a main bar formed to have a length corresponding to a length ofan upper portion and a lower portion of the stairs; and hand railsconnected to first ends of connecting portions extending from both sidesof the main bar and longitudinally extending.

In the folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, the hydraulic pumps may pushthe first sides of the first link assembly and the second link assembly,respectively, so that when the first link assembly and the second linkassembly are rotated to be vertical from the ceiling, the handleassembly positioned close to the ceiling is spaced from the ceiling andunfolded close to the stairs.

The folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged according to anembodiment of the present invention has the advantage that it ispossible to widely use a space by enabling many people to use widestairs by folding the handle assembly at a ceiling.

Further, there is the advantage of enabling elderly people and childrento safely use stairs along the center by unfolding down the foldedhandle assembly.

Further, there is the advantage of increasing convenience in used byrotating the first link assembly and the second link assembly such thatthe handle assembly is easily folded or unfolded by pushing or pullingthe first sides of the first link assembly and the second link assemblyusing hydraulic pumps.

Further, there is the advantage of smoothly folding and unfolding thehandle assembly by overcoming the height difference of stairs and thelength difference of the second link assembly by making the second linkassembly longer than the first link assembly and positioning a linkrotation shaft, which straightly reciprocates, in the sliding holeformed at the second side from the center of the handle assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the concept of a folding stairhandle for the socially disadvantaged according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing the state in which the folding stairhandle for the socially disadvantaged according to an embodiment of thepresent invention has been folded at a ceiling;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are exemplary views showing the state in which the foldingstair handle for the socially disadvantaged according to an embodimentof the present invention is unfolded; and

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing the concept of rotation of a firstlink assembly and a second link assembly of the folding stair handle forthe socially disadvantaged according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments that those skilled in the art can easilyaccomplish are described hereafter in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings. Further, in the following description theoperation principle of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure,when it is determined that detailed description of related well-knownfunctions or configurations may make the spirit of the present inventionunclear, they are not described in detail.

Further, parts having similar functions and operations are given thesame reference numerals throughout the drawings.

Further, when a portion is “connected” to another portion, it includesnot only direct connection, but indirection connection with anothercomponent therebetween throughout the specification. Further, unlessdescribed otherwise, “including” any components will be understood toimply the including of other components but not the exclusion of anyother components.

Hereafter, a folding stair handle for the socially disadvantagedaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention isdescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the concept of a folding stairhandle for the socially disadvantaged according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing the state inwhich the folding stair handle for the socially disadvantaged accordingto an embodiment of the present invention has been folded at a ceiling.FIGS. 3 and 4 are exemplary views showing the state in which the foldingstair handle for the socially disadvantaged according to an embodimentof the present invention is unfolded, and FIG. 5 is an exemplary viewshowing the concept of rotation of a first link assembly and a secondlink assembly of the folding stair handle for the socially disadvantagedaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a folding stair handle 10 for the sociallydisadvantaged according to an embodiment of the present inventionincludes a first link assembly 100, a second link assembly 200, a handleassembly 300, and hydraulic pumps 400.

In more detail, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the folding stair handle 10for the socially disadvantaged according to an embodiment of the presentinvention includes: a first link assembly 100 installed on a ceiling 12,under which stairs 11 are positioned, and rotating; a second linkassembly 200 spaced apart from the first link assembly in correspondenceto the length of the stairs, formed longer than the first link assembly,and rotating; a handle assembly 300 having a first side connected to thefirst link assembly and a second side connected to the second linkassembly, and being folded toward the ceiling or being unfolded towardthe stairs in correspondence to rotation of the first link assembly andthe second link assembly; and hydraulic pumps 400 connected to firstsides of the first link assembly and the second link assembly,respectively, and controlling the first link assembly and the secondlink assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first link assembly 100 is installed onthe ceiling under which stairs are positioned in an interior and servingto rotate the handle assembly 300.

To this end, the first link assembly 100 further includes main frames110, a rotation holder 120, and a rotary shaft 130.

The main frames 110 have a side inserted in holes formed in the ceiling12 and are connected to the rotation holder 120 formed between theholes.

Further, the main frames 110 may be formed as plate-shaped frames spacedapart from each other to face each other at both sides of the outersurface of the handle assembly 300.

The rotation holder 120 is inserted in the holes, which are formed inthe ceiling 12 to provide an as large space as possible so that the mainframes 110 can rotate, and are rotatably coupled to first sides of themain frames 110.

The rotary shaft 130 is rotatably coupled to the first side of thehandle assembly 300 and connected to second sides of the main frames110.

When the first sides of the main frames 110 are rotated on the rotationholder 120, the rotary shaft 130 correspondingly rotates the first sideof the handle assembly 300 connected to the second sides of the mainframes 110.

Detailed description for this operation refers to the description of theoperation process of the folding stair handle 10 for the sociallydisadvantaged according to an embodiment of the present invention to bedescribed below.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 , in the folding stair handle 10for the socially disadvantaged according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the first link assembly 100 may further include firstspacing portions 140 and supports 150.

The first spacer 140 extends from the first side of the main frame 110and has a longitudinal through-hole, and a shaft is rotatably coupled inthe hole, and the hydraulic pump 400 is coupled to the shaft.

The first spacing portions 140 serve to enable the main frames 11 torotate on the rotation holder 120 when the shaft is moved incorrespondence to contraction of the hydraulic pump 400.

Accordingly, a maximum angle at which the main frames 110 can come closeto a surface of the ceiling 12 can be formed.

For example, when first sides of the main frames 110 are coupled withoutthe first spacing portions 140 formed at the end of the hydraulic pump400 and when the hydraulic pump 400 pulls the main frames 110 in afolded state, a problem that the hydraulic pump 400 and the first sidesof the main frame 110 can not come close to each other.

Accordingly, rotation is possible only such that the piston of thehydraulic pump 400 and the main frames 110 come close to each other, sothe handle assembly 300 can not be folded close to the ceiling.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the supports 150 are frames that arerotatably coupled to the outer surfaces of the second sides of the mainframes 110 to be unfolded to a surface of the handle assembly 300 andhave an electromagnet therein.

When the main frames 110 are rotated perpendicular to a surface of theceiling, the supports 150 are unfolded to the surface of the handleassembly 300 connected to the second sides of the main frames 110,whereby the main frames 110 are vertically firmly positioned.

Further, when the main frames are rotated back toward the ceiling, themagnetism of the electromagnets in the supports 150 is removed.

To this end, it is preferable to form a protrusion 151 on the outersurface of a main bar 310 close to the outer surfaces of the main frames110 in order to prevent the supports 150 from coming close to the mainframes 110 when the main frames 110 are rotated to be vertical from theceiling.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 , the second link assembly 200 is spaced apartfrom the first link assembly 100 in correspondence to the length of thestairs 11, is formed longer than the first link assembly 100, androtates.

To this end, the second link assembly 200 further includes link frames210, a sliding hole 230, and a link rotary shaft 240.

The link frames 210 have first sides inserted in holes formed in theceiling and are connected to a link holder 220 formed between the holes.

The link frames 210 are connected to the second side of the handleassembly 300 and rotate in correspondence to rotation of the main frames110, thereby maintaining the level of the handle assembly 300 to beclose to or spaced from the ceiling.

In this configuration, the holes are formed in the ceiling 12 and spacedapart from the first link assembly 100.

The link holder 220 has the same function as the rotation holder 120, soit is not described in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 , the sliding hole 230 is a through-holelongitudinally formed from the center of the handle assembly 300 towardthe second side.

The sliding hole 230 forms a gap at the second side of the link frame210 due to rotation of the link frames 210, whereby the handle assembly300 can be maintained at a predetermined angle and can be formed towardand unfolded away from the ceiling 12.

The link rotary shaft 240 is a shaft that is positioned in the slidinghole 230, is connected to the second side of the link frames 210, andstraightly reciprocates along the sliding hole 230 in correspondence torotation of the link frames 210.

In particular, since the second sides of the link frames 210 are coupledto the handle assembly 300 positioned at the lower portion of thestairs, when the first sides of the link frames 210 are rotted on thelink holder 220, rotation is possible only when the second sides of thelink frames 210 and the second side of the handle assembly 300 comeclose to each other.

This is because the link frames 210 should also be rotatedsimultaneously when the main frames 110 connected to the first side ofthe handle assembly 300 are rotated.

Accordingly, the link rotation shaft 240 positioned in the sliding hole230 adjusts a distance by straightly reciprocating so that the secondsides of the link frames 21 and the second side of the handle assembly300 come close to each other.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 , in the folding stair handle 10for the socially disadvantaged according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the second link assembly 200 may further include secondspacing portions 250.

The second spacing portions 250 are formed at the first sides of thelink frames 210 and have the same function as the first spacing portions140.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the first side of the handle assembly 300 isconnected to the first link assembly 100 and the second side isconnected to the second link assembly 200, whereby the handle assemblyis used as a handle that is folded toward the ceiling 12 or unfoldedtoward the stairs 11 in correspondence to rotation of the first linkassembly 100 and the second link assembly 200.

The handle assembly 300 further includes a main bar 310 and hand rails320.

The main bar 310 is formed to have a length corresponding to the lengthof the upper portion and the lower portion of the stairs 11. The firstlink assembly 100 and the second link assembly 200 are rotatably coupledto both sides of the main bar, respectively.

The hand rails 320, which are bars that are connected to first ends ofconnecting portions extending from both sides of the main bar 310 andlongitudinally extend, enable elderly people and children to move on thestairs 11 with the hand rails in their hands.

It is preferable that the handle assembly 300 is formed in a foldingtype to satisfy both of opposite conditions when many people are allowedto move by widely using stairs or when elderly people or children movealong the center of stairs.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the hydraulic pumps 400 are connected tothe first sides of the first link assembly 100 and the second linkassembly 200, respectively, and serve to control the first link assembly100 and the second link assembly 200.

In particular, the hydraulic pumps 400 push the first sides of the firstlink assembly 100 and the second link assembly 200, respectively, sothat when the first link assembly 100 and the second link assembly 200are rotated to be vertical from the ceiling 12, the handle assembly 300positioned close to the ceiling 12 is spaced from the ceiling 12 andunfolded close to the stairs 11.

Further, it is preferable to provide a switch or a lever around each ofthe upper portion and the lower portion of the stairs 11 so that thehydraulic pumps 400 can be driven by operating the switches or thelevers.

Hereafter, the operation process of the folding stair handle 10 for thesocially disadvantaged according to an embodiment of the presentinvention by the components is described.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the handle assembly 300 is positioned in a foldedstate at the ceiling 12 without a handle installed at the stairs 11.

Accordingly, many people can move in commute time with only handles,which are usually installed at both sides of stairs, installed andwithout a handle at the center of the stairs.

Further, when elderly people or children unavoidably use the center ofthe stairs, the hydraulic pumps 400 installed in the ceiling are drivenby operating switches or levers positioned around the upper portion andthe lower portion of the stairs, respectively.

In this case, it is informed that the folded handle assembly 300 moveddown toward the centers while unfolding by making an alarm around.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , the pistons of the hydraulic pumps 400are stretched, thereby pushing the first sides of the main frames 110and the first sides of the link frames 210. Accordingly, the main frames110 are rotated on the rotation holder 120 and the link frames 210 arerotated on the link holder 220, whereby the handle assembly 300positioned close to a surface of the ceiling 12 is spaced from theceiling.

Next, the second sides of the main frames 110 are rotated on the rotaryshaft 130 rotatably connected to the first side of the handle assembly300.

Further, the second sides of the link frames 210 are rotated on the linkrotary shaft 240 rotatably connected to the second side of the handleassembly 300.

In particular, the link rotary shaft 240 positioned in the sliding hole230 formed in the main bar 310 constituting the handle assembly 230 isstraightly moved from the center of the main bar 310 to the second sideof the main bar 310, whereby the second sides of the link frames 210maintain an angle corresponding to the height difference of the upperportion and the lower portion of the stairs.

Accordingly, the main bar 310 comes close to the stairs 11 whileunfolding from the ceiling 12 with the level at a predetermined angle.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4 , when the main frames 110 and the link frames210 finish being rotated to be vertical from the ceiling 12, thehydraulic pumps 400 stop pushing, whereby the handle assembly 300 can befirmly positioned at a predetermined distance from the surface of thestairs 11.

In this case, the supports 15 positioned on the outer surfaces of thesecond sides of the main frames 110 are rotated to the first side of themain bar 310 by the gravity in correspondence to rotation of the mainframes 110.

When the hydraulic pumps 400 stop operation with the ends of thesupports 140 in contact with the outer surface of the first side of themain bar 310, the magnetism of the electromagnets in the supports 150 isgenerated, thereby firmly restricting rotation of the main frames 110.

To this end, it is preferable to form a hole with a predetermined depthat the portions that the ends of the supports 150 come in contact withby magnetism.

In this way, when elderly people or children move up or down the stairswith the hand rails 320 in their hands, rotation of the main frames 110is stopped, so they can safely move.

Further, since rotation of the main frames 110 is restricted, the linkframes 210 are also not rotated even without forming specific supports150 on the link frames 210.

In this case, it is apparent that supports 150 are formed at the secondsides of the link frames 210 to further firmly position the handleassembly.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention were describedabove in the detailed description of the present disclosure, theyexemplarily provide the best embodiments of the present inventionwithout limiting the present disclosure. Further, it is apparent thatthose skilled in the art can modify and copy the present invention invarious ways without departing from the spirit of the presentdisclosure.

Accordingly, the range of the right of the present invention is notlimited to the embodiments described above and may be implemented invarious types of embodiments within the following claims. Further, itshould be noted that even various changeable ranges by those skilled inthe art are included in the range of the claims without departing fromthe spirit of the present invention determined by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A folding stair handle for the sociallydisadvantaged, comprising: a first link assembly installed at a ceiling,under which stairs are positioned, and rotating; a second link assemblyspaced apart from the first link assembly in correspondence to thelength of the stairs, formed longer than the first link assembly, androtating; a handle assembly having a first side connected to the firstlink assembly and a second side connected to the second link assembly,and being folded toward the ceiling or being unfolded toward the stairsin correspondence to rotation of the first link assembly and the secondlink assembly; and hydraulic pumps connected to first sides of the firstlink assembly and the second link assembly, respectively, andcontrolling the first link assembly and the second link assembly,wherein the first link assembly further includes: main frames having aside inserted in holes formed in the ceiling and connected to a rotationholder formed between the holes; and a rotary shaft rotatably coupled tothe first side of the handle assembly and connected to second sides ofthe main frames, and the first link assembly further includes supportsrotatably coupled to outer surfaces of second sides of the main framesto unfold to a surface of the handle assembly and firmly come in closecontact with the surface of the handle assembly by magnetism, which isgenerated when power is applied to electromagnets disposed therein,thereby firmly vertically positioning the main frames.
 2. The foldingstair handle of claim 1, wherein the first link further includes firstspacing portions each extending from the first side of the main frameand having a longitudinal through-hole in which a shaft is rotatablycoupled and coupled to the hydraulic pump, and the first sparingportions serve to enable the main frames to rotate on the rotationholder when the shaft is moved in correspondence to contraction of thehydraulic pump.
 3. The folding stair handle of claim 1, wherein thesecond link assembly further includes: link frames having a sideinserted in holes formed in the ceiling and connected to a link holderformed between the holes; to a sliding hole being a through-holelongitudinally formed from the center of the handle assembly toward thesecond side; and a link rotary shaft positioned in the sliding hole,connected to the second side of the link frames, and straightlyreciprocating along the sliding hole in correspondence to rotation ofthe link frames.
 4. The folding stair handle of claim 1, wherein thehandle assembly further includes: a main bar formed to have a lengthcorresponding to a length of an upper portion and a lower portion of thestairs; and hand rails connected to first ends of connecting portionsextending from both sides of the main bar and longitudinally extending.5. The folding stair handle of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic pumps pushthe first sides of the first link assembly and the second link assembly,respectively, so that when the first link assembly and the second linkassembly are rotated to be vertical from the ceiling, the handleassembly positioned close to the ceiling is spaced from the ceiling andunfolded close to the stairs.